8/15/2007

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines -- Heavy rains lashed Manila and other parts of the northern Philippines on Wednesday, flooding streets and causing major disruptions to businesses and schools, the government weather bureau said.

In Manila, traffic was brought to a virtual standstill as blocked drains turned roads into rivers with water in some parts of the city waist deep.

Children were carried on their parents' shoulders to keep them above the water while others resorted to using makeshift rafts made from timber and styrofoam.

The heavy rain was caused by typhoon "Egay" (international code name: "Sepat") which skirted the east coast of the main island of Luzon Wednesday morning, the weather bureau said.

Egay" has maximum winds of 140 kilometers per hour and is moving west at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA).